Combine old school Streaming

The title says it all - I stream music from WiMP preferably in hi-fi quality. I also like to see 3D movies with the appropriate sound through my Denon DTB 3313th A month ago I called even a vicious Columa 900 - 5.1 surround set my own. For films are excellent, for stereo? Well ...

The wake-up call came at the IFA in Berlin: a purist stereo combination from Magnat showed me what is possible in pure stereo: a sensational stage even without surround. So I bought the first reasonable stereo speakers. There were the new CM bought 9 S2 Bowers & Wilkens. These are the producers of the famous but priceless Nautilus. The friendly consultants devil (here were the definition 5 shortlisted) prophesied that I would surround speaker sell quickly at reasonable HiFi speakers. Was a parallel operation being considered, I could no longer hear the 900 actually really good devil Columa. So sold.

Now I had my fun with the B & W CM 9 S2 in conjunction with the AVR-X4000. The AVR are ascribed excellent properties also in stereo mode. I can only confirm - but not at high levels. From a volume of 60 it started to my taste (it is subjective everything) to clink and indifferent to sound. And even though I have connected operation in bi-amping the speakers. At 8 ohms come after all 125 W per channel at! Amplifier sound there is not (except tube amplifiers), but of course, high-quality components which hold the signals stable.

Review PMA-1520AE

And so it came to purchase the PMA-1520AE. Actually, I had rather expected this device to test, and then return them. Because there is no sound amplifier :-) But it turned out differently. Since I did not want to give up my AVR X4000 as streaming and movie friend, only the POWER AMP DIRECT mode came into question. There is also a problematic listening room (near-wall speaker installation, labyrinthine space, no carpet, only hardwood, large window area, etc.). Without Audyssey room measurement stereo sounds to me just to run away. The AVR-X4000 was thus connected as a preamplifier to the PMA-1520AE. Advantages: I could continue to stream over Airplay WiMP music, benefit from Audyssey and of course enjoy about the Denon DTB-3313 my movies in sensational stereo sound. Even the volume is controlled via Airplay. The B & W CM 9 S2 were bi-wiring connected to the PMA-1520AE.

Now to my subjective audio impressions:

1. stream music with WiMP HiFi via AirPlay from Apple (setter iPhone 5, iPad 2 and MacBook Pro)

In the area of ​​R & B and electronic music, I experienced not only an outstanding set design (I would call it already 3D-hearing), but also a precise bass with lofty heights. The improvement was already audible at normal volume levels. At high levels absolutely load stable, finally no more distortion! Mind you, the PMA has technically significantly less power than the AVR: 70 + 70 W into 8 ohms! I had previously in the AVR-operation still playing around with the Graphic EQ I hear now only without any "Klangverbieger" Audyssey Flat (Audyssey is of course a "Klangverbieger", but only to adapt the acoustics). In classical music I can sometimes play a CD via the 3313 DTB directly from the PMA-1520AE. Here come to my mind very clearly the high quality components of the PMA-1520AE into play. It must indeed be paid no expensive licenses and all sorts of bells and whistles like the AVR-X4000. You can see it also in the performance between Integrated Amplifier PMA and AVR.

2. Play Blu-ray movies on the DTB-3313

I had my best friend visiting recently. Actually, I wanted to show him just 3D. Now I have no surround system more, but only pure stereo mode. I played him the second chapter of the Pacific Rim. After the small demonstration, he was visibly pale in the face. I asked him what's going on. He replied that he is not accustomed to see movies with this brutal bass. So it goes without a subwoofer ;-)

Summary entirely subjective (I'm not a specialist in hi-fi and listening is always subjective)

per
- Absolutely stable under load
- Are mixed with the speakers is a "3D stage" produced (surround similar!)
- Basses come dry and precisely
- Voices are mapped centrally
- No hum or other annoying noise (no fan)
- Quality finish

contra
- No Wake up function as the AVR X4000 (Standby I could disable, therefore no penalty)

Tips (according to my personal experience)

Anyone toying with the PMA-1520AE should be aware of the following: a high-quality amplifier needs higher quality boxes. And both in combination may sound catastrophic when a poor room acoustics anyway! I had, for example, a Linn Majik DSM to sample on my B & W CM connected 9 S2. It sounded just abysmal. But it was not the high quality amplifier, but to my poor room acoustics. For me, therefore, the AVR X4000 helps with the very good room measurement. -> Speakers -> technical equipment room acoustics: So following order for the perfect sound. Thus, the amplifier is in last place.